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Flat Tuesday

OK, so the Alito hearings have not yet made for exciting television. This incredibly smart Federal Judge from a modest New Jersey background and immigrant parents is a man of the law through and through.  He cites precedent and case law the way a true legal scholar does (a friend in Washington says his sister is his intellectual equal in every way) and yet he is not, shall we say, an emotional flamethrower. The expectations set for these hearings by way of comparisons to Chief Justice Roberts are not altogether fair (Dahlia Lithwick of Slate had some fun with this topic today) and blogging has changed the way so many people take in what they are seeing during this proceeding. 

For a time today, I dropped in on Captain's Quarters to sample the view from there. I heard two liberal-leaning analysts assert today (perhaps wishful thinking on their part) that Alito's membership in the Concerned Alumni of Princeton University -- and his mention of it years later on a Reagan Administration job application -- could give the Democrats some traction. Senator Pat Leahy, D-Vt., asked in a TV interview this afternoon if Alito is "running away from his record." There is interesting coverage of that issue in the Daily Princetonian. It certainly appears to be shaping up as a party line vote. As my friend Candy Crowley just said about today's proceedings: "no runs, no hits, no errors." 

Onward: after we talk about Alito tonight, we'll go to Iraq and look at the situation unfolding there, a young American freelance journalist who is missing after being captured while on the job for the Christian Science Monitor. Hers is an interesting and tragic story (as is every abduction, injury and death in that war zone), and seeing videotape of her yesterday from an interview MSNBC conducted with her was simply heartbreaking. Richard Engel had some interesting things to say about her abduction on our sister blog today.

Dawn Fratangelo will have a report card on the state of emergency medicine in this country, and Robert Bazell will look at the frustrating business of testing for prostate cancer.  Also, we're in the midst of a literary scuffle again, and Bob Faw will brief us on the allegations against a very popular author.

You know how every Washington public policy group, think tank, and Cabinet department has its own logo-laden "backdrop" now for press events? Well, add the COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY to that list.  Senator Specter appeared before cameras during the afternoon break in front of a new, attractive blue background. It all started at the White House briefing room, of course (with the smartly stylized oval logo behind the lectern) and then spread to the "Western White House" and to Cabinet agencies all over Washington -- say nothing of Presidential speeches, where the "mantra" is printed/repeated in graphic form all over the backdrop, ensuring its appearance in all photo or video depictions of the event. And now a Senate Committee.  Josh King (Clinton White House advance man, who has been credited as the "father of the modern backdrop"), what hath thou wrought?

An while we're handing out on-line bon mots today: a tip of the hat to Salon. In this current age when everyone is writing, journaling, blogging and generally making every thought known to all who will listen, it's hard to find or read anything original. This piece from Salon asks some tough, fair questions that have to do with human nature and the news media, our society and attention span. I've spoken and written a lot about the unfortunate disconnect between military and civilian America these days, and this speaks to this as well, I think.

We hope you can join us for tonight's effort.

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Responsibly debating the war

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